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Recent studies revealed an additive cardiodepressive effect of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) and thrombocytes in hearts exposed to a no-flow ischemia. To find out whether or not this is also true for isolated guinea pig hearts exposed to a low-flow ischemia, the current study was performed. PMN or thrombocytes, together or separately, were applied as a 1-min bolus (1,000/µl or 20,000/µl, respectively) during ischemia or in reperfusion in the presence of thrombin (0.3 U/ml perfusate). Recovery of external heart work and intracoronary cell retention were quantified in percent. Sole application of PMN or platelets during ischemia and reperfusion significantly compromised myocardial function, whereas coapplication of PMN and platelets did not exhibit any further cardiodepressive effect. Coapplication of cells almost prevented intracoronary platelet retention during ischemia and in reperfusion, as opposed to sole platelet application. Known blockers of endogenously released anti-platelet substances like nitric oxide, PGI₂ or adenosine did not mediate a further aggravation of myocardial dysfunction. The platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist WEB 2170 BS, however, significantly improved recovery of external heart work during ischemia and in reperfusion. This indicates that an additive cardiodepressive effect of PMN and platelets in working guinea pig hearts exposed to a low-flow ischemia, cannot be demonstrated, whereas PAF antagonists seem to be cardioprotective, under these conditions. Even addition of fibrinogen to the perfusate, did not show an additive cardiodepressive effect of coapplication of PMN and platelets.

Studies in animal models have suggested that the ketogenic diet may be effective in the treatment of cancer. However, human cohort studies on the ketogenic diet have, thus far, failed to show benefits in cancer survival or in any other hard clinical endpoints of the disease. This paper presents a case report of a patient with glioblastoma multiforme. The patient had initially been treated with standard oncotherapy including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite standard treatment, the patient experienced a recurrence of the glioblastoma seven months later. Subsequently, the patient refused radiotherapy and chemotherapy and opted to use the paleolithic ketogenic diet (PKD) as a stand-alone therapy. Following the adoption of the PKD, progression of the disease has been completely halted. At the time of writing, the patient has remained in remission for 48 months, is without side-effects and experiences an excellent quality of life without the use of any drugs.

Survivors who participated in this survey and who had undergone surgery alone reported in some head- and neck-specific domains a better health-related quality of life than patients who had undergone multi-modal treatment or adjuvant radiotherapy.